Method and means for controlling deep well gunfire for perforating casings



' w. GQ LAN-E METHODANDl MEANS ORCONTROLLING DEEP WELL GUNFIRE FOR PERFORATING cAsIGs ,C A A Filed Dec. 2o, 1952 `inve-Arran*- Y er Patented Feb. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS Foa ooN'rEoLLING DEEP WELL GUNEIRE Foa PERFORMING CASINGS Wilfred G. Lane, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to `The Technioraft Engineering Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California AApplication December 20, 1932, Serial No. 648,045

25 Claims.

The present invention is a method andmeans for controlling deep well gun-fire for perforating casing, and relates to a type of perforating gun disclosed in a co-pending application for patent filed by me on November 12, 1932, Serial Number The primary object of the invention is to provide means, controlled from the mouth o! the Well, for setting off, electrically, a-series of explosive charges distributed thruout the length of a gun-body for the purpose of perforating a well casing into which said gun-body has been lowered.

In the application above mentioned a cable is shown which transmits the energy required to energize thermal elements for ring charges behind projectiles. r

" In the present disclosure the cable is not used. A battery is lowered with the gun on. a dry tubing string and the electrical contact connections, necessary to operate the gun, are made and broken in response to accumulation and release of uid pressure vwithin the tubing string. In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical central cross section of a well bore, cased and cemented, within whichis shown, partly in section andpartly in elevation, by controlunit, perforatinglgun and means for anchoring, same tothe well casing,

Figure 2 is asection of line II-II, l

Figure 3 is a section of Figure-1, taken on the line III-III,

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a float tank for operating a valve, l

Figure 5 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 4, showing the tank raised by liquid to actuate the valve,

Figures 6 and '7 are, respectively, collapsed and distended views of a sylphon or bellows, and illustrate the relative positions `of elements actuated thereby, f

Figure 8 is a section of Figure 6 taken on the line VIII-VIII, y Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, illustrating the step-by-stepadvance of a contact arm by reciprocationof the sylphon, and l y Figure 10 is a detail View of a'pawl. Referring to the drawing, Figure l, the numeral I indicates a casing surrounded by cement 2 tting a well bore extending through formation 3. A dry tubing string 4 is threaded at its lower end with a head member 6 into which is also threaded the upper end of a mandrel '1, the lower end of which is threaded at 8 into the head` member 9 or a gun-body.

Figure 1, taken on the Slidable on a mandrel 1 is a ca ge consisting of collars Il joinedl by bow springs- I2 which bear frictionally against the wall of casing I.

The upper of collars Il carries a hook I3 which engages a stud I4 extending outwardly from mandrel 1.

Slips I6, secured at one end to upper collar Il arefprovided with se. ated outer surfaces I1 for engaging the casing wall.

When the device is run in the hook I3 engages stud I4 and slips I6 are out of engagement with the casing wall. When the device is to be anchored, however, tubing string 4 is rotated to the left, thereby disengaging hook I3 and the tubing string lowered through the spring cage, which is held stationary by the contact of springs l2 with the casing wall. V y Slidable on mandrel 1 is a cone member I8. In-

terposed between said cone and head member 6 is a plurality of packing rings I9 and spacing rings Downward movement of tubing string 4 depresses head 6 until it encounters the uppermost of spacing rings 2i, and the ring assembly is moved downwardly, causing thecore I8 to spread slips I6, the wedge action causing the serrations I1 `to engage the wall of casing I. The weight of the tubing string 4 compresses the packing rings which are deformed laterally dividing the casing into upper and lower zones. Y

The device so far described is a hook wall packer shown and claimed in a co-pending application forpatent filed June 1, 1932, Serial No. 614,731.

It is here employed as an anchoring means for structure hereinafter described.

The gun body here shown is similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 642,410 illed November 12, 1932.

Said body is composed of a number of screw' threaded cylindrical sections 22, provided with axial bores 23 registering one with another to provide a conduit for wires 24.

Intercepting said bores 23 4are transverse bores into which are threadedat 26 removable breech blocks 21, concentrically bored to receive removable barrels 28, threaded thereinto at 29.

In the bore 3| of each barrel 28 is a projectile 32 to which is spot welded a disc 33 which serves dual purposes. It forms a means of retarding projectile 32 and constitutes a seal against hydrostatic pressure when compressed between the bottom of the bore in breech-block 21 and the inner end of barrel 28.

A combustion chamber 34' contains a thermal element 36 forV igniting an explosive charge to shear disc 33 and expel projectile 32.

Electrical energy .is carried to the thermal element 36 by the wires 24 each of which is connected at one end to a contact finger 31 contacting one end of thermal element 38, which is 'grounded at the other end through disc 33 to the gun body.

The upper most section 22 of the sectional gun body is thread-connected at 38 to a length of tubing 39, ,which houses storage battery cells in-l dicated at 4I.

Tubing section 39 is thread connected at 42 to a similar section 43 similarly threaded at 44 to another section 46, which, in turn, is threaded at 41 to the head member 9 of the gun body.

Supported in the space between the adjacent ends of tubing sections 39 and 43 is a circular disc 48, Figures 1 and 3, of insulative material through which extend a series of contact members 49 disposed in circular relation to be successively contacted by a contact arm 5I.

Each of wires 24 is connected, at one end, to a contact 49-and, at the opposite end, to a spring contact finger 31. The-terminals A-B of battery 4I are connected, A to ground on the body, as at 52, and B to the contact arm 5I, so that if said arm be rotated to successively wipe contacts 49, the thermal elements 36' will be energized, one by one, and projectiles 32 be expelled to perforate casing I and cement 2.

I will now describe means for imparting intermittent, step-by-step rotary movement to contact arm 5I in response to fluid pressure transmitted through the dry tubing string 4 to perforate casing I; means for entrapping a sample of uid, admitted through perforations, within the tubing string; and means for preventing premature fire.

In Figures 1, 6, and '1, I show a. cup member 53 to the bottom of which is secured the contact arm 5I the parts being insulated, one from the other, by a disc 54. A stud 55 on contact arm 5I extends into a bore through platform 48 pivoting said arm and forming a connection for battery wire B.

The vertical annular Wall of cup 53 is serrated to form ratchet teeth ,58 having vertical and oblique edges; Extending into cup 53, in slidable relationfis a tubular closed end 51 of a sylphon or bellows 58, the integral flanged base 59 of which is secured between the adjacent ends of tubing sections 43 and 48, Fig. 1.

When air, under pressure, from tubing string 4 enters sylphon 58 thru an inlet passage 6I, Fig. 1, said sylphon is distended from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. '1 and the reciprocative movement of said sylphon is made to impart step-by-step rotative movement to cup 53 (and contact arm 5I secured thereto) by a pawl 62 pivoted on a stud 63 extending from member 51 of the sylphon.

Said pawl is normally held in the full line position shown in Figures 6 and 10 by a coiled tension spring 64, one end of which is secured to said pawl at 86 and the other end of which is anchored to member 51 at 81.

Pavl 62 has an arcuatenotch 68, formed on a circle struck with the pivot pin 63 as a center, for engaging a stud 69 extending outwardly from member 51.

When sylphon 58 is distended the descending pawl 62 encounters an oblique edge of one of the ratchet teeth 58, causing the cup 53 to rotate to the position shown in Figure 7, the vertical edge of said ratchettooth moving pawl 82 to its dotted line position Figures 6 and 10.

Cup 53l is provided with ratchet teeth 1 I, which are engaged by a detent^12v secured to the wall of tubing section 43.

The cup is thus prevented from reverse movement and, when pressure'ln tubing string 4 is relieved, sylphon 58 collapses until the pawl 62 clears the ratchet teeth 56, at which time spring 64 restores said pawl to its initial position, clearing the point of the ratchet tooth, for engagement with its oblique surface for repeated operation.

In Figures 1, 4, and 5, I show a means for preventing premature or accidental firing of the gun from hydraulic pressure, in case the tubing string 4 leaks, it being understood that the packer and gun are lowered through a column of heavy iiuid such as rotary mud or water which uid serves to balance the pressure of the formation.

At 13 I show studs integral with, or secured to, the member 59 of the sylphon. Said studs carry pintles 14 on which are pivoted levers 16, the inner ends of which extend into an annular groove 11 in the stem of a conically pointed valve 18 adapted to seat within and close the inlet 6I of sylphon 58.

Levers 18 are so weighted or balanced on their pivots as to normally support valve 18 in its inoperative position (Figure 4). The ends of said levers, remote from said valve, are secured by chains 19, to legs 8| on an air tight container 82.

Container 82 is of relatively light material, is luted on its periphery, as indicated at 83, to bypass air from tubing string 4 to inlet 6I of sylphon 58, and is adapted, by its buoyancy, to lift, when liquid 84 enters tubing section 46, and thereby depress valve 18 closing inlet 6I before sufficient hydrostatic head can accumulate to operate sylphon 58.

In order to withdraw and entrap a sample of uid admitted to casing I through perforations made by gun-fire, I provide the following means:-A section of tubing 86 is connected at one end to head member 9 and at the other to the uppermost of the gun-body sections 22, by threads, by welding, or in any suitable manner providing an annular, air tight chamber 81, enclosing the uppermost of gun barrels 28, as shown in Figure 1. By pre-arrangement the wires 24 are so connected to contact disc 48 that the projectile 32 in that barrel 28 (which is enclosed by the tubing section 86) is the last to be discharged.

When the last shot has been fired, the projectile 32 pierces the wall of tubing 86, allowing the surrounding liquid, which has been released from formation through perforations made by gun-rire, to enter chamber 81, whence it passes thru ports 88 in tubing sections 46, and through a passage 89 in head 9, to the dry tubing string 4.

Being thus released to atmosphere, said liquid builds up a head within the tubing string to a level determined by formation pressure.

A ball, indicated in dotted lines at 9|, is dropped thru the tubing string from the mouth of the well to close passage 89 and entrap the uid accumulated in the string.

Operation The method of operation of my invention is as followsz--The parts, assembled as shown in Figure 1, are lowered in casing I to a point of depth at which the casing is to be perforated, on a dry tubing string 4.

,. means, holding the ythecasingl.: M t; f l

The upperopen endfof tubingstringtis coni nected to a source .oteairfor gas, 4under pressure, if

said string is rotatedto set'the anchoring and suflicient pressure admitted through the tilbingstring` to distend sylphon. ijcausingcontact i harm V5 I to,` closethe.electrical` circuit ringa pro- `jectile 32"; n 101 y whereuponzsylphon 58 contracts due to inherent resiliency, and the mechanism isrestoredtoinitial position for repeated operationuntilthe- Pressure in"` tubing @string "then-relieved last shot is fired, which opens `the -tublngrstring to` admission of fluid from the newly-perforated.`

engage hook I3. and

I claimrstudil. q v

1. Apparatus for string and said gunbody,` responsive to successive i accumulations andV releasescf lpressure within Y lso projectiles from the several gun units.,

l 2.- Apparatus for;perforatingwell easing"` and.,

said tubing string `for successively discharging the like comprising in combination, aldry tubing t string.. agun body,s`upported by Vsaid `tubing string, provided with explosive. ,means adapted,`

l when discharged,to drive projectileslthrough a` and `.pneumatic `means operable through said tubing` string for actuatingsaid control means.

Awell tool adapted toibefloweredina iwell .wcasingvand comprisingin unitary relation an,V explosive actuated means; electrical Operating n mechanism` therefor; and a fluid 'responsive `de vice `for controlling said mechanism.v m 4. Akwell tool adaptedytoibeloWered-fn awellh casing and comprising a body structure, explo-7' sive actuated means y carried thereby; anV elec-v trical operating mechanism including conductors l communicating .with said` means; and` ayfiuld responsive device for controlling `said mechanism gun :bodysuspended within perforating well casingcr the like l comprising. a tubing string, a gun body, con- ...nected kto saidtubingstring, provided with a plui rality ofigununits each adapted, whendischarged,

m to drive `projectiles through; a :surrounding casi ling,A and coactivemeansA carried by said tubing..A

e e 3 8. In a wen tool; ,stating string; a' body structure suspended therefrom; an explosive actuated `means;.1a.n electrical operating mechanism for said means; a pneumatic control device for said mechanism .positioned in responsive relation to fthe interior of` saidmtubing string'whereby variation in pressure in said 'tubing string actuates said device; and means for isolating saidcontrol liquid.

9. A well casing perforator comprising a tubing string; a body structure suspended therefrom; a

`gun unitcarried by said body structure arranged to iire arprojectile laterally through a surround- Ving Well casingranelectrical operating mecha.-

p nism including` a conductor communicating with said gununit; a pneumatic control device for said mechanism positioned in responsive relation cto the interior of said tubing string whereby variation in pressure in said tubing -string actuates `said.device; and means for isolating said control devicefrom the tubingst'ring upon entrance of liquid;

`device from thetubing string upon entrance of `10. The combination witha guntype perfol yrlator for well casings; said perforator having a plurality of guns; of an electrical ring mecha- J.nism mounted Within said perforator'and arrangedto discharge the guns thereof and `iiuid responsive means for controllingmsaid ring mechanism. i

, 1-1. TheV combination with a gun type perforatormfor well casings; vsaid perforatorv having a plurality of guns; ofl a` tubing string vsupporting the perforator; of an electrical 'ring mechanism v mounted within said perforator and arranged to Y i discharge the guns thereof; and a fluid responsive .m surrounding casing, control means;` including an `electrical circuit` for `discharging said.V explosive,

means for controllingv said ring mechanism,

, said means positionedin Vresponsive,relation to ".pressure within the tubing string.

. @112. ,The combination with a gun type perfo- 'ratorfor well casin'gs; said perforator having a pluralltyof guns; of `a tubing stringgsupporting the perforator: and an electrical ringmechanism 1 mounted .within said, perforator and arranged Ytovdischarge the guns thereof; a pneumatic vcontroldevice for controlling said firing mechanism, said devicepositioned in responsive y relation tothe interior of the tubing string `Wherebyvariation in pressure therein actuates `said device; and means for isolatingsaid control ydevice fromthe tubing string upon entranceof liquid.

51A Well casing perforatorcomprising a bodygv structure;` a `gun unitV carried thereby l arranged `to fire a projectile laterallythrough a surround- `ing well casing; `an electricalA Aoperating mechanism including a conductor communicatingxwith said` gun unit, and a fluidjresponsive Vdevice for` Y controllingwsaid mechanism.` 1 4 y. l

6. In a Welltool;` atubing string; avbodystruc- `pressure m `actuated device `for controlling said; mechanism, said device positioned in responsive relation with uid contained in said tubing string.

x '7; A well casing perforator comprising a tubing string; a `body structure suspended therefrom;

and a gun unit carried by` said body` structure 17.3. A YWell tool adapted `to`be Ylowered in a well. casing .and comprising in unitary relation a plurality of explosive `actuated means ;a iluid re- `sponsive device; ratchet-means engageable thereby to advance upon successive operations lof said device; and an electricV circuit Aincluding contacts engageable in successive orderbysaid` ratchet v m m m f means and conductors leading therefrom Yto said ture suspended therefrom;` an explosive actuated i arranged to fire a projectile laterally through a surrounding well casing; an electrical operating mechanism including a conductor communicating with said gun unit; anda fluid pressure actuated device for controlling said mechanism, said device positioned in responsive relation withfluid contained in said tubing string.` v

explosive actuated means to connect the same sequentially insaid .electric circuit. f

1,4, In a Well tool; a tubingllstringe alf-body Vstructuresuspended therefrom; "ai plurality. of explosive actuated means carried by the body structure; a fluid'responsive device; ratchet means engageable thereby to advance upon successive operations of said device; and an electric circuit including contacts'engageable in successive order by said ratchet means and conductors leading therefrom to said explosive actuated means to connect the same sequentially in said electric circuit; said uid responsive device positioned in responsive relation to fluid contained in said tubing string.l l

ture suspended therefrom; a plurality of explosive actuated meansv carried by the body Vstructure; a iiuid responsive device; ratchet means engageable thereby to advance upon successive operations of said device; an electric circuit 'including contactsengageable in successive order by said ratchet means and conductors leading therefrom to said explosive actuated means to connect the same sequentially in said electric circuit; and buoyant means for isolating saidl fluid responsive device from the tubing string upon the entrance of a liquid therein.

16. The combination with a gun type perforator for well casings said perforator having aplurality of guns; of a fluid v responsive device;

ratchet means engageable thereby to advance upon successive operations of said device; and an electric circuit including contacts ,engageable in successive order by said ratchet means'fand conductors leading therefrom to the guns of said perforator to connectA the same sequentially in said electric circuit.

17. The combination with a gun type perforator for well casings, said perforator having a plurality of guns; and a tubing string supporting the perforator; of a fluid responsive device;

ratchet means engageable thereby to advance upon successive operations of said device; an electric circuit including contacts engageable in successive order by said ratchet vmeansand conductors leading therefrom to the guns of said perforator to connect the same sequentially in said electric circuit; and buoyant means forisolating said fluid responsive device from the tubing string upon'the entrance of a liquid therein.

18. In a well tool; a body'structure; a plurality ofv explosive actuated means; and an operating means thereforcomprising an electricalloperating mechanism connectible with the several explosive actuated means in a'predetermined order; and a fluid responsive device actuated by successive accumulations and releases of fluid pressure and engageable with said mechanism to connect the same in saidpredetermined order with the determined orderwith the several gun units to re the same.

20. In a well tool; a body structure; a plurality `of explosive actuated means; and an operating means therefor comprising, an'electrical operating mechanism connectible' with'the several explosive actuated means in a predetermined order; and a fluid responsive device actuated by successive accumulations andlrelea'ses of fluid pressure acaaecc and engageable with said mechanism to connect the same in said predeterminedorder with the several explosiveactuated means to fire the same; and a. tubing string for supporting the body structure; said fluid responsive device positioned in responsive relation to uid within said tubing string.

21. A Well casing perforator comprising a body structure; a' plurality of gun units carried thereby'arranged to fire projectiles laterally through la surrounding well casing; and an operating means therefor comprising an electrical operating mechanism ccnnectible vwith the several gun units in a predetermined order and a fluid responsive device actuated by successive accumulations'andreleases of fiuid pressure and engageable with said mechanism to connect the same in saidpredeterminedorder with the several gun units to fire the same; and a tubing string for supporting the body structure; said fluid responsive device positioned in responsive relation to fluid within said tubing string.

22. The combination with a gun type well casing perforator carrying a plurality of electrically operable gun units; of an electrical firing mechanism mounted within said perforator and arranged to discharge the gun units thereof; switch vmeans interposed between the firing mechanism and gun units; and a fluid responsive device coactively associated with said switch means and actuated by successive accumulations and releases of' pressure to connect said ring mecha- -nism through said switch means with the several gun units successively.

v23. The combination with a gun type Well casing perforator carrying a plurality of electrically operable'gun units and adapted to be lowered in a well casing by a tubing string; of an electrical firing mechanism mounted within said perforator and arranged to discharge the gun units thereof; switch means interposed between the firing mechanism' and the gun units; and a pneumatic device positioned in responsive relation to pressure withinthe tubing string and coactively associated with said switch means to actuate the same in response to successive accumulations and releases of pressure within the tubing string and Acause the gun units to discharge successively.

24. A method of perforating Well casing in situ characterized by lowering on a tubing string a plurality of gun units into said casing while maintaining a pneumatic communication with the tub- 'ing string, then' discharging said gun units successively by successive pneumatic impulses.

25. A method of perforating well casing in situ characterized by maintaining a pressure balancing liquid within said casing; lowering by a tubing string a plurality of gun units into said casing while maintaining pneumatic communication with the tubing string, but insulated from said pressure balancing liquid; then discharging said guns successively by successive pneumatic impulses.

WIIFRED G. LANE. 

